Returning from our three day whirlwind tour of NC to look for houses, I have come to the decision that house hunting is just like dating. Nothing is perfect, you just have to decide what you are willing to overlook for a 30 year marriage...I mean, mortgage.

My husband and I are a complimentary couple; I believe the glass is half full and he believes someone is going to take the glass away before he can pour the water. Most of the time it works, especially with major purchases. Being a cop and a now catastrophe insurance claim guy, he is a worst case scenario freak. Being a gypsy, I've survived enough worst case scenarios to believe nothing is the end of the world. 

Based on the places I have lived and the conditions I have tolerated I have no business assessing a house. I thought a house was perfect and hubby said, "For a five year house, the tar strip on the shingles should have been under the next highest shingle. This roof wouldn't pass inspection." I could tell you that U2 shot their "Streets Have No Name" video on a roof, but I can't determine when one close to collapsing. Another house had a huge kitchen, now, if you read my LA blog you would understand that any kitchen is a good kitchen, especially one with working burners. Hubby said, "the drawers are not dovetail, it's a piece of shit." My children are no help because they just want the house with the most acorns.

Because of my relaxed standards, we have worked out a house hunting plan. I play kid wrangler and he plays buyer. I don't even unfasten the car seats unless he comes back out and gives me the "hi" sign.  I do find it odd that the houses that almost passed his inspection, our "favorites", are I have picked aesthetically by looking at pictures online. I must be somewhat in tune, but even so, there were flaws...all of which I could live with. But could I live with him living with them is the question. We continue to look.

Alright, what do we want. An acre lot, trees that surround the sides (I've had my share of close neighbors), transitional (a new term for me) with a wrap around porch, a screened in porch and a grilling patio. Ideally a jack and jill bathroom for future quarreling teen girls and a guest room w/ bath for my MIL [Obama Mama ] and FIL and a Target nearby. Okay, that's what I want. He wants a list of qualities that I never knew existed with "attention to detail" and a 24ft wide garage. Oh, and a grilling patio, too. We continue to look.

We are in the speed dating phase in our pursuit of mortage.  It is hard to not be taken in by the flashy personal ads: Prepare for elegance! Breathtaking! Get out the rocking chairs! The really bad ones get eliminated after 30seconds and after the more pleasant meetings we exchange emails to find out more about each other. But those fizzle out eventually. I am still excited and hopeful that the right home is out there, perhaps dreading a walk through with another family who wants to change this and gut that, a family who doesn't appreciate it for who it is. I just hope hubby doesn't overlook it with his quick judgement and it becomes the one that got away. No house is perfect. Just like marriage there will be flaws that reveal themselves as time goes by, the "I never saw that when we bought it" surprise. At that point, a successful mortgage will rely on seeing the glass half full.